sorrow

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 哀 is associated with sorrow or pity; its on-reading is あい.
• Basic usage: 可哀想 is read かわいそう, and 哀れ is read あわれ; both can describe something pitiable or distressing.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Feeling sad and viewing someone's plight
  • Saying 可哀想だった about a puppy trembling in the rain means that one felt sorry for the puppy. This differs from merely describing one's own sad mood.
  • 哀れな最期 means a wretched end, describing the unfortunate fate of a character in a story.